49ers coach Jim Harbaugh sticking with Kaepernick

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh catches a ball before the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

SANTA CLARA -- Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday he plans to start Colin Kaepernick for a fourth straight game Sunday when the 49ers host the Miami Dolphins.

Despite a couple major miscues by Kaepernick and the offense in Sunday's 16-13 overtime loss at

St. Louis, Harbaugh was encouraged by the way his second-year quarterback responded to those adverse situations.

"There were a lot of positives in the game," Harbaugh said. "With Colin, especially after the fumble touchdown, the way he responded, the way our team responded, putting ourselves in a position to win after that. The same could be said after the safety, he responded with big throws and big plays."

The 49ers snapped a 10-10 tie by producing a field-goal drive, although the Rams answered with their own to force overtime.

Again in the extra session, the 49ers positioned themselves for victory but David Akers missed a 51-yard field goal attempt.

Harbaugh said they would look at if they were too conservative in their approach.

What are Alex Smith's chances of ever reclaiming his job from Kaepernick?

"Alex is not out of this," Harbaugh answered. "We feel like Alex, we've said it before, he's one of our guys. He's won us a lot of games. He'll be preparing to play in these games each and every week. That's what his mindset has to be, as if he was the starter. Knowining Alex, that's what he'll do."

Harbaugh praised Kaepernick's decisions and play-making ability, as well as the complementary efforts of Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore.

As for the dubious option-pitch that resulted in the Rams' tying touchdown, Harbaugh again took responsibility for the risky play call.

"Too much ball handling, too much chance for the play to go sideways and backwards," Harbaugh said. "At that point of the game, I take responsibility for that."

Harbaugh said the 49ers have no plans to abandon kicker David Akers, who's missed half his field-goal attempts from 40 yards or more.

"We'll see what his health

status is this week but all indications are that he's working through something," Harbaugh said. "But he's kicked, kicked well in practice, kicked well in games. The one he missed in the game was well hit but just didn't go in.

"David's mindset is he's a professional. Been in every situation imaginable. He takes responsibility and knows its his job to put it through the uprights."

Harbaugh offered no health update on Mario Manningham's injured shoulder, and he said defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs would be available to play this weekend after missing the St. Louis trip following a late-night arrest after a car accident.

Forced into overtime each game against the Rams, Harbaugh said the teams match up evenly, and he commended both defenses, including a "near-perfect game" by the 49ers' unit.

"It's a tough loss," Harbaugh said. "That gut-wrenching feeling is still there. The positive thing is we still have a quarter of the season to play, four games to control our own destiny and bounce back. There's a bit of an edge I suspect because we all take responsibility we didn't get it done this week."